21 kms and 16 hours to Manila

Tam:

What a way to end my 14 year stint in Melbourne! Running in the Melbourne Marathon (well the half) with 10 000 other runners up St Kilda Road and around Albert Park Lake and ending up in the MCG! Russ, Col and I ran it in 2 hours and 8 mins in beautiful conditions and I even have a medal to prove it!

But that's not all, Coxy and I still had 12 hours to kill before we were anywhere near boarding. So, as if to tempt me into staying, Melbs turned on the heat and sun - a gorgeous 25 degrees. We met up with Mark and had drinks and lunch on Southgate and later said goodbye to Mic and Michelle.

The flights were comfortable and Singapore airport is one of the better airports to have a layover. We even were treated to a free movie in a mini theatre upstairs from the duty free shops.

I am now quite tired now but well fed on mini fried crabs, chicken ( of course! ) , squid and beef and am chillaxing in our suite ( we got "upgraded" at the budget boutique Casa Nicarosa in Malate ). It's great to be here and although we are in the hustle and bustle of the city I am keen to get to the country to see mum and relos.

The legs are tired and so are the eyeballs - the trip starts now!

Pros so far: have probably had about 9 meals in the last 24 hours ; having Coxy see where my family come from and the heat and humidity

Cons: am very sure the locals think I am a hooker!

Coxy:

What a day! And it's still going, coming from mathoura to melb to Singapore to manila in 5 days is a thrill.

Initial thoughts on Singapore; so clean and white and full of tropical plant life - and that's only the airport and surrounds!

Manila is just like the Bruce lee karate movies showed; full of blokes on bikes and contraptions like jeepney's - a cross btw a bus and a landrover! Stuffed my face at dinner and on the plane - who said plane food was ordinary, washed down with free Singapore slings it was delicious.

It's great to be here in manila with tam for the night, nasugbu tomorrow and plenty of local hospitality - can't wait!

Coxy thought for the day: bravest person award goes to the 3 kids (12, 13 years old max) who ran on to a 6 lane highway in crazy Manila traffic to jump on the side of a jeepney to polish it's side windows for small change.